Astrid's POV. When I finally opened my eyes, it was morning. I blinked slowly, trying to shake off the lingering grogginess. I felt a little better, though still lightheaded. The sedative had done its job, lulling me into a deep sleep, but now something felt off. The room was eerily quiet, and the silence gnawed at me.I turned my head to the side, expecting to see someone—anyone—but the room was empty. Dane wasn’t here. Beta Ivar had promised to explain everything to him, to clear up the misunderstanding, so why wasn’t he here? Why hadn’t he come to see me?An uneasy feeling settled in my chest, tightening with each passing second. The suffocating silence pressed down on me, amplifying my worries. Maybe Dane had just stepped out for a moment, gone to get something, or maybe he was busy. But no matter how I tried to rationalise it, I couldn’t shake the dread that something was wrong.My thoughts began to race, each one more frantic than the last. Had Dane refused to listen to Iva
DANE'S POVThe door suddenly swung open with a loud creak, making me look up from my desk. I had specifically instructed Beta Ivar that no one was to enter the study and that I wanted to be left undisturbed. My irritation grew as I saw Astrid walk in unannounced.As I took in her appearance, I noticed she still looked pale and fragile. Her presence here was concerning, considering she was supposed to be recovering in the hospital. The sight of her in such a state, despite the seriousness of her condition, only fueled my frustration further.Astrid moved toward me with an anxious expression, her voice trembling as she began to explain. She spoke quickly, trying to clarify what had happened between her and Halfdan. She was desperate to convince me that the situation had been a misunderstanding, that it was merely an accidental embrace and that there was no romantic involvement between them.My anger flared as I listened. Her insistence on spinning a story felt like another betrayal.
Dane's POV. The thought of being in a coma for a few weeks, escaping the heartache and the gaping void in my soul, seemed almost like a relief.Eventually, I pulled over by the pack archery building, the familiar sight offering peace. I stepped out of the car, the cool night air doing little to ease the searing pain within me.I hastened my steps into the archery building, my frustration mounting with every stride. I needed to channel my anger somewhere, or I might end up making a rash decision I’d regret later.As I stormed through the door, a female attendant immediately looked up and bowed her head respectfully. “Alpha Dane,” she greeted, her voice steady but tinged with apprehension.“Is anyone else here?” I demanded curtly, my tone leaving no room for error.“Yes, Alpha,” she replied, her voice steady but her eyes betraying her nervousness. “A few people are still around.”“Clear the grounds,” I ordered with a sharp edge in my voice. “I want everyone gone, including the staff, e
DANE'S POV.I drew my arms back, the bowstring taut, my gaze steady as I aimed directly at Edmond’s head. I could see the terror in his eyes, his heart pounding so loudly that it seemed almost audible. Sweat beaded on his forehead, tracing down his temples in glistening droplets.Edmond’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his expression a mixture of fear and regret. The atmosphere was thick with tension, each second stretching out painfully. I could almost feel the weight of his dread pressing down on both of us.Finally, Edmond shut his eyes tightly, bracing himself for what he feared might come next. I released the arrow with a swift, controlled motion. It flew through the air with a sharp whoosh, slicing through the space between us.The arrow struck the apple with pinpoint accuracy, splitting it cleanly in half. The two halves fell to the ground, the pieces rolling slightly before coming to rest.Edmond’s eyes snapped open, his face ashen as he looked at the split apple befo
ASTRID'S POVOpening my eyes, the first thing that assaulted me was a wave of pain, regret, and seething hatred that seemed to pulse through my very veins. My body ached from the cold, hard floor I had slumbered on, and my mind was foggy from exhaustion and the emotional strain of the past day.The memories of the previous night came rushing back. I had spent hours crying and pleading at Dane’s study door, my voice raw and hoarse from the constant begging. Each attempt to get through to him had been met with silence, and his refusal to open the door or acknowledge my presence had only deepened the sense of despair I felt.I had hoped—foolishly, it seemed—that we could work things out before nightfall, that somehow, we’d find a way to mend our fractured relationship. But as the hours ticked by, it became increasingly clear how far off I was. Dane’s anger was a force I had never encountered before, an intensity that made me feel more desolate than I had initially.In my desperation,
ASTRID'S POV.Once back in the room, I made my way to the bathroom. The soft light of the morning filtering through the frosted window did little to ease my nerves. I removed my clothes and stepped into the shower, hoping the hot water might help clear my foggy thoughts. As the water cascaded over me, I tried to focus on the soothing sensations, but my mind remained clouded with worry. I kept replaying the events of the previous night, his anger, and the unspoken words that seemed to hang heavy in the air. The steady rhythm of the shower did nothing to soothe my anxiety, and I found myself lost in a haze of thoughts, struggling to make sense of everything.I needed to clear my mind, but the lingering worry about Dane’s whereabouts and the tension between us weighed heavily, making it hard to find peaceAs soon as I finished my shower and slipped into fresh clothes, I sank onto the edge of the bed, feeling a deep weight in my chest. The soft light filtering through the window cast
ASTRID'S POV.The sight of her on her knees, clutching her stinging cheeks with feigned sorrow, made my resolve harden. I could see through her act; it was clear that she wanted something from me, something I was determined not to give.“Guards!” I commanded, my tone icy and unyielding. “Throw her out of the pack, this instant!”“Please, Astrid, it’s almost the full moon. I can’t go out there; besides, I need to explain to Dane as well. Just let me meet him; I need to apologize,” Camilla pleaded, her voice choked with desperation. Tears streamed down her face, adding to her pitiful appearance. Despite her pleading, I remained unmoved, my arms folded tightly across my chest. “Dane isn’t home, and you can't tell that to him yourself so leave!” I snapped, my voice edged with irritation. My mind was heavy with worry, and Camilla’s dramatics only added to my frustration.It struck me as peculiar that Dane had not returned home yet, especially with the full moon approaching. My concern
DANE'S POV"Go away, Astrid," I commanded, but she didn’t listen. Instead, she lunged forward, throwing her arms around my neck, pulling me into a tight hug.I could feel my control over my wolf slipping away more and more with each passing second, as it started to take over. A deeper, louder growl rumbled from my chest, but Astrid didn’t budge. Her eyes locked onto mine, and the way she looked at me sent a cold shiver down my spine.I tried to push her away, but it was no use. Something felt wrong, and it wasn’t just the wolf—everything seemed off.My claws extended, sharp and deadly, as I shoved her off once more. I winced when I saw her hit the floor with a heavy thud. The sound echoed in the room, and I froze when I noticed blood slowly seeping from a wound on her back. Rage coursed through me, but this time it was directed at myself. I was furious that I had lost control, furious that I had hurt her.The angrier I became, the less stable I felt. My body trembled with the force
Secrets OutAuthor's POVIt so happened that Alpha Hale, Dane's father, Mr. Han, and Alpha Safiya were best friends—until Edmond came into the picture.They began having problems with each other until Mr. Han asked Edmond to kill Alpha Hale.Edmond refused, but Han was desperate. Han committed the murder himself but blamed Edmond. Edmond often acted like a jerk towards Dane Hale, his friend's son, whenever he recalled the past.He misses Alpha Hale, but that doesn't change the fact that he killed Astrid's mother to cover up his crimes. He did all of this to please Han and keep their secrets hidden.In the end, they all faced their downfall, except for Edmond, who remained alive. He will return from his slave trade, and guess who his next target is? Astrid's son, who is a Moon Healer!********Dear Readers,I want to extend my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for taking the time to read my book. Your support, feedback, and encouragement mean the world to me, and it’s becau
Astrid's POV. I slowly pushed myself up from the bed, rubbing my eyes as I took in my surroundings. The room was quiet, and for a moment, loneliness washed over me like a cold wave.But then I turned to the window and saw Dane, his strong frame leaning against the sill. He cradled our baby, Hayden, in his arms. A smile crept across my face at the sight of them together. They looked perfect.“You're awake late! We had plans for today, but you overslept,” Dane teased as he walked over to me. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. The warmth of his affection spread through me, making me feel safe and loved.It had been a month since everything turned upside down—a month since the terrifying nightmare that almost took our lives. After escaping to the pack with Ethan, I had spent many sleepless nights, my mind racing with fears. I was terrified that Dane would sacrifice our child, that he wouldn’t care about us. But I was wrong.Dane would never hurt our baby. He and Ethan to
Halfdan's pov. (His End)The bottle of whiskey was cold in my hand, the burn of the liquid a distant sensation as it slid down my throat. I could barely feel it anymore, barely cared. All I could think of was her. Camilla. My mate. My cunning, twisted, evil mate.How did it come to this? The memories of that night still clawed at my mind, gnawing away until I felt like I might go insane. I closed my eyes, but the image of her face filled my head—the way her eyes locked onto mine in those final moments, full of both fear and acceptance. She was in my arms, her body limp and lifeless, yet her lips had curled in that knowing smile. The same smile she had whenever she thought she had won.She had won.Even in death, she had won, taking the slash meant for me, falling in my place. She died in my arms, the blood soaking my hands, the life draining from her body while I could only watch. And no matter how much I told myself I hated her for all she'd done, for all the evil she brought to o
Halfdan's POV.I stood on the balcony, hands behind my back, staring up at the sky. I had felt off all night, but something about being out here shifted my mood. A small smile formed on my lips as I gazed at the red sky. It wasn't the death of an alpha; I would’ve been invited if that were the case. No, this meant something else—a moon healer had been born.How fortunate their parents were. A child with such a rare gift was both a blessing and a burden. The entire world would come for them, and I would have to protect that child. It was my duty. But deep down, I wished I’d been given that choice, to have a child of my own to protect. I wanted it so badly, and I would die for my child if it came to that. But not everything in life goes the way we want it to.A sharp knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts, and I turned my head toward the sound.“Alpha Halfdan!” Drake shouted as he burst onto the balcony, panting heavily.“What is it now, Drake?” I asked, rolling my eyes. I ha
DANE'S POV"Camilla," I called out, my voice firm. She didn’t even flinch, her cold, hard glare fixed on Astrid. Astrid, who looked exhausted and fragile. She had just given birth. She needed rest, not this. She shouldn’t be standing here, facing Camilla. All I could think was, ‘Have I ever done anything right?’ Ever since she came into my life, all I’d done was cause her pain and worry. And now I had a son too. I couldn’t let this cruel fate fall on them both. They deserved peace— ‘they deserved better than me.’Camilla took a step forward, her lips curling into a cruel smile. Her eyes locked onto the baby. My son. I stepped in front of Astrid, blocking her view."I’m going to need the child," Camilla said, her voice dripping with malice. The smirk on her face widened, her eyes glowing with hatred.My jaw tightened, my body tense. "What makes you think I’ll give you my son?" I growled, glaring at her. But my words only made her smile bigger. She looked back at me with the same ch
DANE'S POVEight months had passed, and it felt like nothing had changed. Every morning, I woke up wondering if she still hated me as much as before. It bothered me. What was I supposed to do to make things right?She had been kidnapped and hospitalised so many times, and I knew my life was dangerous for her. To make things worse, she misunderstood something I said, thinking I would hurt our child. What did she think of me?That night, after I apologised again and again, she ran off. Even after almost being killed by Camilla, she didn’t stop. She must have cared about me, right? But then her mother died, and she left, probably thinking it was better to get hurt by someone else than by me.Now, she’s back in the Fierce Claws pack. For eight months, I’ve known where she’s been hiding. I watched over her, had guards keeping a close eye, though from a safe distance. I made sure she was protected, but I kept my distance too. If she wanted to be away from me, I wasn’t going to take that fro
ASTRID'S POVI panicked, trying to take another step, but the contractions were too strong. Tears filled my eyes as I whispered, “Help… please… someone…”But no one stopped. People walked past me, ignoring my pleas. No one knew who I was, and they didn’t care. I was invisible.“See where avoiding me got you?” Ethan’s voice came from behind me. I turned, and for the first time in my life, I was relieved to hear him.“Let’s get you somewhere safe,” he said, grabbing my arm and guiding me toward his car. I didn’t fight him. I couldn’t. He helped me into the car, and we sped off.The pain was unbearable now. I tried to hold back my screams, but it was impossible. Each contraction was worse than the last. I was losing control.Ethan pulled up to a small cottage—not a hospital—but it didn’t matter. “Someone, help!” he yelled as he carried me inside.An older man and two young women rushed over, guiding me to a bed. They set up quickly, and I knew it was almost time.Minutes passed, and I wa
ASTRID'S POVI woke up with a soft yawn, blinking my eyes open. For a moment, I stayed still, letting the calmness of my room sink in. The smell of antiseptic wasn’t there, and everything seemed normal. It was quiet. Peaceful.I ran my fingers through my hair, sitting up slowly. I was back home, tucked safely in bed, but the memories hit me hard. It all came rushing back—my uncle, Camilla, and the knife. I almost died.But Dane saved me.Camilla had tried to kill me, but Dane stopped her. He apologized, kissed me, but I was too tired to care at that moment. I had spent the whole day running and crying. Exhausted from the fear and pain, I must have fallen asleep on the ride back.Looking out the window, I frowned. Something felt off. It was getting dark outside, and I had no idea how long I’d been asleep. Where was Dane?I stretched and got out of bed, glancing around. The room felt empty. Dane should’ve been here by now. I waited, pacing back and forth, but the door stayed closed. No
DANE'S POVBeta Ivar's words had taken me by surprise and struck me deeply, sending a wave of emotion crashing over me. It was someone I knew; the realization that the person responsible for my father's death wasn’t so far away sent a chill down my spine. Whoever it was had been within arm's length all along, silently watching my suffering unfold. Such great audacity.I had been drowning in despair for far too long, consumed by grief and confusion for reasons I now realized were unfounded. The thought of revenge simmered within me, but first, I needed to uncover the truth. Who on earth could it be? Who had the audacity to murder my father and continue to live among us, hidden in plain sight?But then, the Bluestone Pack—who could it possibly be? What motives could they have? The questions flooded my mind as I grappled with the enormity of it all. Why would they bring such tragedy to our doorstep? What on earth could have compelled someone from Astrid’s pack to commit such a hei